Page 54 of Dangerous December
Beth joined her at the window and felt a thrill of excitement over the gathering of people at the end of the block. “It looks like it’s quite a hit.”
Though only a sampling of the stock had arrived and the display units and shelving weren’t completely in, he and Frank had put up colorful posters outside to advertise the type of stock and services that were yet to come.
Four kayaks in a brilliant rainbow of colors had been delivered just in time and were displayed out in front, just as he’d first envisioned.
“Well,” Beth said, taking a deep breath. “It’s ten o’clock and time to open the doors. Are you ready?”
Her dark eyes shining, Elana nodded. “I think this will be a day to remember.”
When he’d first heard the details of his mother’s will, Dev had imagined six long months of responsibility while playing nursemaid to a houseful of faceless old folks who probably needed a higher level of care.
He’d been here a full month, and his perception had changed a hundred-eighty degrees, challenging his original plan to stay emotionally distant until he could finally escape.
Cody had become his shadow.
Frank, with his strong organizational skills, had been teaching Dev about running a business, but in a fatherly, gentle way that was totally the opposite of Dev’s own late father.
Even Carl had come over to help with the carpentry on the interior of the store, and he’d worked faster and harder for his money than most men half his age. The others from the boarding house had dropped by now and then to help unpack boxes, sweep and dust, or just to offer encouragement.
His houseful of faceless, unwanted responsibility had started to feel like family.
“Hey, son,” Frank called out from the front door. “Someone wants to buy a kayak and is asking about accessories.”
Dapper as ever in his worn suit, crisp white shirt, and tie, Frank had conceded to the theme of the store by exchanging his bomber hat for a fishing cap emblazoned with a giant, thrashing walleye embroidered on the front.
Glancing at the fierce fish on his head, Dev raised a hand in acknowledgment, finished a sales transaction for spandex biker shorts and a new brake assembly for a mountain bike, then locked the register and made his way through the crowd to the front door.
Frank met him at the door and rested a hand on Dev’s back as he pointed out the right customer.
“I should have hired extra help today. I had no idea,” Dev said, close to Frank’s ear.
“If you’d like, I could call Reva. She knows how to handle a cash register.”
His eyes sparkled, and a note of pride crept into Frank’s voice whenever he spoke of the woman who was apparently the love of his life, though she didn’t appear to be aware that he even existed. Still, he doggedly treated her with proper, courtly respect at every opportunity.
“Good idea. Thanks.” Dev gave him a hearty clap on the shoulder, wishing he could do more to smooth the way for his friend.
Maybe...if the store stayed busy, he could hire her part-time, so she and Frank would end up working together...
He snorted at the thought. Of all people on the planet, he was the last who ought to interfere with anyone else’s affairs of the heart. He’d loved Beth Carrigan with all his heart, and where had it gotten him?
Long nights. No interest in anyone else. And businesses at opposite ends of a block.
There were occasional working lunches, when they carefully kept their conversations focused on the people of Sloane House and discussed how they could best help them. But nothing more.
He searched out the kayak customer and worked his way over there. “Hey, how can I help you?”
It was ironic that he could make that offer to someone else, yet not be able to help himself.
By five o’clock, the crowds had thinned to a trickle. Dev’s shoulder was aching, and Frank looked exhausted.
Reva, who had handled the cash register for hours as well as finding varying sizes and colors of items in the back room for customers, looked as fresh as a pristine, ivory rose, her posture perfect, her black hair and elegant features unruffled.
“I’m going to run across the street and get us all some coffee,” Frank announced, his eyes shyly fixed on Reva. “Black with cream and one sugar?”
She inclined her head in a regal nod. “Thank you, Frank.”
The woman needed to give him more points for effort, Dev thought as he restocked a display of Swiss Army knives bythe front door and watched Frank head across the sidewalk. Belatedly, he realized he should have given Frank some cash.
